My Second Burn -- Can we go now?... How 'bout now?

[Solar Suze]

Hello new friends:

I'm Suze from the Philly area. "2009: Evolution" was my first Burn. My husband and I went by ourselves as virgins and were a little too reserved, let's say, to get to know people very well. (We met some super-cool people and had two incredible serendipitous encounters, but I mean really get to know people and hang out.) Our first day I don't think we even visited a camp because we were too shy to go in. But we still had a great day, biking around the playa looking at the most amazing art in the world and walking around with our eyes popping out of our heads at every turn. Our boldness grew, and so did our appreciation for the scope and beauty of Burning Man.

This year we'll be bolder, of course. And we'll have two incredibly enthusiastic virgins meeting up with us, people with fewer inhibitions than my husband and I.

It was enlightening to read how cold BRC got in 2010. Anyone who was there in 2009 knows that the days and nights were delightful. I'll pack my fur-lined snuggies, as my grandma used to say (before Snuggies existed as a product).

Ready to eat some dust!

Suze

[illy dilly]

Suze welcome to ePlaya!
2009 was our first year too!
We camped on the 3:30 side. We were part of an un-official theme camp called "Baby Badder Camp".
Where did you camp?
2010 was pretty good weather if ya ask me.
Honestly, I felt a little jipped in 2009 since there weren't really any dust storms.

Hopefully it will be nice and cool again this year huh?

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

[Savannah]

Hi Suze! It took me a couple of Burns to be bolder and more outgoing, too. I don't think you'll be as slow as I was.

You're going to have so much fun looking at your virgins' faces . . .

Welcome to the board!

[This Woman]

I was so shy I decided to start a bar, figuring that would bring people to me.

Welcome to eplaya, and if you're in the neighborhood of 3 & H, pop in the Livers End for some excellent conversation and libations.

[Solar Suze]

Thanks for the welcomes. Pleased to meet you and glad to be here.

illy dilly, in 2009 we were around 8:00 and G -- we called it the RV 'burbs. Which was fine, because we were in an RV, and we didn't want to bother tent people. But after hours biking on the playa, it sure seemed like a long ride home.

Which brings me to a question, for those of you who aren't in a camp or village: How do you decide where to camp? Are there certain camps you like to be close to? You pull into the first spot you see? I'd love to know why you choose the spot you choose.

This Woman, thanks so much for the invitation. It's pretty brave to start your own bar! I've added your info to my Burning Man file, and I have every intention of paying you a visit!

Suze

[Savannah]

How do you choose a site? First and foremost, you look at the map you're given when you come in, and avoid camping in the shaded theme camp areas. Watch out for foot-high double flags made of wire. Unless something has changed in the last year, these are theme camp boundaries. Then, you avoid being right next to a row of bathrooms. The doors will slam all night long, & though they're cleaned frequently, it might be possible to smell them if you're very close. Another consideration: your neighbors. If they're smart, they mark off the area they intend to fill by occupying it as best they can. However, misunderstandings are possible, so ask the people camped nearest to you if they mind if you camp there. Finally, if you're a light sleeper, be careful of sound camps, especially at 10 and 2, but keep your eyes out for stages, big lighting rigs, large and obvious bars, etc. The further out you go, the easier you'll (probably) sleep, but the farther you are from the greatest amount of activity. I am a light sleeper and love not to be too close-in. If it weren't for the fact that my friends love Streets D through G, I would be on the outer rings every time.

Beyond that, it is strictly experimentation, inclination, history.

My first year I camped at about 9:45 and . . . G, maybe H? Maybe even further out than that--if it existed then. Facing the mountains, of course. There wasn't much between us and the trash fence a mile or so away. Loved it. The city was, if I remember correctly, less than half the size it is now (about 20,000 people) so this was the equivalent of the boonies, aside from some sound camps at a distance of a few blocks. It felt very remote.

Now every year, I gravitate back towards the 9 o'clock side, between 7:30 and 9:30 without fail, as--I believe Illy Dilly described--like a salmon swimming upstream. That's my side, and I like it! I like how the mountains look on that side. Lots of good memories. I would find out much later that the 9 o'clock side is considered "the Red Light District". Oh dear--no wonder I felt comfortable! Though honestly, I didn't notice any difference between that side and the other. Then again, I wasn't attempting to sleep on the other side. As the (usual) site of Hushville and Kidsville, perhaps the 3'clock was more family-friendly.

After my tastes for the 9 o'clock side was firmly established I made friends with a camp who also always camps on the same side . . . and so now I am even more reinforced in my habits.

[illy dilly]

Thanks for the welcomes. Pleased to meet you and glad to be here.

illy dilly, in 2009 we were around 8:00 and G -- we called it the RV 'burbs. Which was fine, because we were in an RV, and we didn't want to bother tent people. But after hours biking on the playa, it sure seemed like a long ride home.

Which brings me to a question, for those of you who aren't in a camp or village: How do you decide where to camp? Are there certain camps you like to be close to? You pull into the first spot you see? I'd love to know why you choose the spot you choose.

O man, it would have been really cool if we had been neighbors. But you seem pretty cool anyway

Yeah, being past D makes it seem like you're constantly walking to and from the Esplanade.

As for where to camp. My and my friends are 3:30 & D-E people. That is where we camped our first year, and that is were we will continue to camp.
I'm not going to bother repeating everything Savannah said, cause she pretty much covered it all.
No matter where you camp, you're in Black Rock City. THE BEST DAMNED CITY IN AMERICA!!!

[Solar Suze]

Thanks so much for the advice. We are probably better off a bit further from the action--and maybe we won't have a choice, because I'm not sure we can arrive before Monday night. I think we're going to have MUCH better bikes this year, so that will help a lot for the ride to and from the 'burbs. Last time, by the second day, my ass bones hurt so much from the bike seat that my husband zip-tied a towel to the seat in an attempt to soften it a bit. (You know, now that I think of it, his bike seat was just as bad. Why was his butt just fine? Something to do with the female pelvis?)

OK, perhaps it's time for me to move on from Introduce Yourself? BTW, it's very kind of you seasoned burners to post welcomes to the eplaya newcomers.

Suze

[Savannah]

Indeed! The other forums are full of good stuff.

I hear there's a such thing as a gel-enhanced bike seat to cushion the bones. Worth a shot if you haven't picked one up already.

[DustHand]

Indeed! The other forums are full of good stuff.

I hear there's a such thing as a gel-enhanced bike seat to cushion the bones. Worth a shot if you haven't picked one up already.

Yep! I got one last year that is a gel filled slip cover. Got it at target I think. My butt was comfortable all week, and my hand held gps I carried says I rode over 50 miles in 4 days. I highly recommend.

[illy dilly]

Thanks so much for the advice. We are probably better off a bit further from the action--and maybe we won't have a choice, because I'm not sure we can arrive before Monday night. I think we're going to have MUCH better bikes this year, so that will help a lot for the ride to and from the 'burbs. Last time, by the second day, my ass bones hurt so much from the bike seat that my husband zip-tied a towel to the seat in an attempt to soften it a bit. (You know, now that I think of it, his bike seat was just as bad. Why was his butt just fine? Something to do with the female pelvis?)

OK, perhaps it's time for me to move on from Introduce Yourself? BTW, it's very kind of you seasoned burners to post welcomes to the eplaya newcomers.

Suze

Something that I've seen works really well is a two step process.
First get a grandma seat from the local bike store, or maybe even walmart.
Second, cover it with really thick fake fur. The fur makes it even bigger and softer.